‘We’d slap him if police hadn’t come’: MNS workers storm Pune home; threatens man over Facebook post on Raj, Uddhav Thackeray

PUNE: A group of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers staged a protest outside a Pune resident’s home on Thursday, accusing him of posting a derogatory comment on Facebook about party chief Raj Thackeray.The incident took place in the Kothrud area of the city and drew police intervention after tensions escalated. No official complaint had been registered by Thursday night, though MNS workers later submitted a written request seeking legal action.Protest outside home

The man in question, Kedar Soman, reportedly posted a comment that MNS workers deemed offensive towards both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. In response, a group led by local MNS leader Hemchandra Sambhush gathered outside Soman’s residential building.Eyewitnesses said the group shouted slogans and threats, demanding that Soman come out of his home. He locked himself inside to avoid a direct confrontation. A video of the incident circulated widely on social media.Police step inPune Police arrived at the scene and managed to de-escalate the situation. Soman was taken into protective custody, and officers confirmed that no violence occurred.Speaking to news agency ANI, MNS leader Sambhush justified the protest, saying, “We tried to reason with him first, but if he hadn’t been taken away by the police, we would have slapped him.

This wasn’t just about Raj Thackeray — he had made comments about Uddhav Thackeray too.”Case registered against residentPolice have registered a case against Soman under cyber laws and are currently investigating whether his post violated any statutes related to incitement or public order.This comes just days before an MNS rally in Mumbai, where both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are expected to appear together in celebration of a state decision to scrap Hindi as a mandatory third language in schools.Background of vigilantism concernsThe incident has raised concerns over political vigilantism in Maharashtra. Last month, a group of MNS workers was seen on video assaulting a sweet shop owner in Mumbai’s Mira Road allegedly for not speaking Marathi — a video that also went viral and sparked public debate.Police have assured that further investigation is underway into the Kothrud incident, including a review of CCTV footage and social media content.(With inputs from agencies)_